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This is Wyatt, he is a member of the cast from Autism the musical.

This is Henry, he has Aspergers and he was a part of Autism the Musical

Overview and Description of Autism:

Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that appears most often before the age of 3. Autism affects the normal development of the brain in areas such as social interaction, communicative skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with Autism often have difficulty with verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure/play activities. Autism is diagnosed four times more often in boys then in girls. There is not a cure for Autism at this point, but early intervention programs can be very beneficial for children with Autism.

Signs of Autism:

• Doesn't show smiles or other warm joyful expressions by 6 months or after.
• Doesn't share sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by 9 months or after.
• Doesn't babble by 12 months.
• Doesn't gesture by 12 months.
• Doesn't say any words by 6 months.
• Doesn't have any 2 word meaningful phrases by 24 months.
• Has loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age.
• Doesn't make eye contact.
• Doesn't smile when smiled at.
• Doesn't respond to his/ her name of the sound of a familiar voice.
• Doesn't follow objects visually.
• Doesn't use gestures to communicate.
• Doesn't follow other people's gestures.
• Doesn't make noises to get attention.
• Doesn't initiate or respond to cuddling.
• Doesn't imitate other people's expressions or movements.
• Doesn't try to get picked up.
• Doesn't play with other people.
• Doesn't ask for help or make other requests.

Stimming is a repetitive body movement that is hypothesized to stimulate one or more senses. It is often seen in kids with Autism. This video is an example of stimming and what it looks like.

What falls under the category of Autism Spectrum Disorders:

external image autism.jpg

Learning Challenges Presented by Autism:

• Students with Autism often have language delays or can be nonverbal therefore they may require specific language therapy.
• Students with Autism have difficulties with with working memory therefore students may need instructions broken down into smaller steps, have them wrote down to refer back to, and longer times for responses.
• Students with Autism are visual learners so it is important to give them information visually.
• Students with Autism can be easily over stimulated therefore it is important to try to decrease the stimuli.
• Students with Autism are very routined oriented, to help them in school educators should try to maintain a daily routine.

Opportunities and Strengths that Autism provides:

This is an awesome PDF that lists different strengths that students with Autism have!
http://www.ct-asrc.org/docs/strengths.pdf

Assistive Technologies That Can Be Used to Support Learning:

This page has a list of different types of technology that can help students with Autism,
http://www.autism-community.com/education/assistive-technology/

Tool #1: DynaVoxMaestro,http://www.dynavoxtech.com/products/maestro/

• Description of DynaVoxMaestro: It is a talking device that allows students with speech and language disabilities the option to be heard. It is a touch screen device and it has pictures already programed in it, but more can be uploaded as desired.
• Rationale for the Use of DynaVoxMaestro: With this device students who normally can't communicate can now communicate with everyone around them, including their teachers.
• Several ways DynavoxMaestro can be used to support learning: It allows students to ask questions in class since they can now communicate. Teachers can now get feedback on what the student does and does not understand.
• Prerequisite skills needed to utilize DynaVoxMaestro: Under construction
• Lesson materials and activities that will support the use of DynaVoxMaestro: It will work with any type of lesson.

external image maestro-1_large.jpg

Tool #2: iPad

• Description of Ipad: A device that can have apps downloaded onto that can help students with Autism.
• Rationale for the use of an Ipad: The Ipad offers many applications that can help students with Autism. They have apps for communication, organization, behavior management, and many more.
• Several ways an Ipad could be used to support learning: An Ipad can help students who can't communicate verbally to communicate in a different way. Students who have trouble with organization can download an app to help them become organized. They have behavior apps to help teachers track students behavior to better support the behavior treatment plans.
• Prerequisite skills needed to utilize Ipad: Under Construction
• Lesson materials and activities that will support the use of ipads: It should work with any type of lesson, especially the communication and organization apps.
• Apps for students with Autism:

1.Behavior Tracker Pro
2. Autism Track
3. AAC Speech Communicator
4. Emotion Cards

Tool #3 picture schedules:

• Description of picture schedules: They are schedules that show students their activities for the day by pictures.
• Rationale for the use of picture schedules: Picture schedules allow students to visually see directions. This is good for students with autism because they learn visually.
• Several ways pictures schedules can be used to support learning: It helps students with routine because they can visually see what the next step will be on the schedule. Since students know what their routine is less time will be spent calming students down because they are frustrated by surprise activities. This extra time can be spent teaching the students.
• Prerequisite skills needed to utilize picture schedules: Under Construction
• Lesson materials and activities that will support the use of picture schedules: These schedules can be used everyday for any activity.

Tool #4 pencil grips:

Under construction

• Description of picture schedules:
• Rationale for the use of picture schedules:
• Several ways picture schedules can be used to support learning:
• Prerequisite skills needed to utilize picture schedules:
• Lesson materials and activities that will support the use of picture schedules:

This is a great movie about children with Autism and their families, I highly recommend everyone watch it!

​Contributed By: Brittany Piccone (1/14/2013 - 5/9/2013)